You can tell things are hotting up in the whole Brexit debate when we have high value visitors to these shores.
There was a team of European MPs visiting the border in Co. Louth this month. Then there was chief EU negotiator M. Barnier addressing the Dáil, subsequently going up to Monaghan for a gander, to meet with farmers and food industry workers.
And finally we had Tony Blair on the sod, speaking of the disastrous consequences of a hard border for everyone if things go haywire.